Our Opinion: Finding solutions

Leon County Schools and Boys & Girls Clubs work to put children first

Nobody had to tell Theresa Flury that it wasn't going to be easy three years ago when she took over as president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend.

She walked in facing a debt of $2.9 million, and suddenly her dedication to giving back and being part of the solution to the advancement of hundreds of children in need of a supervised, after-school learning and development environment was overwhelmed by the constant challenge of finding money to keep the centers afloat. Sure, there were grants here, significant help from the United Way of the Big Bend there, fundraisers sponsored by those who shared her vision so that Ms. Flury and her staff could focus on their vision.

But it was never enough.

And while the money remained an issue, the Boys & Girls Clubs still provided activities for children bused in from Leon County Schools or dropped off by working parents. So much so that word started to spread that this place works, and that brought a surge in request by parents to let their kids in the door.

But by last summer, the outlook became desperate, as the club's Tallahassee operations were barely operating month to month. Bus transportation was reduced. The mortgage was due on the club's Laura Lee Avenue property, and there was no way the club could pay it off, or even down.

Today, the situation is not so bleak, thanks to a partnership formed by Leon County Schools, United Way of the Big Bend and the Boys & Girls Clubs. In March, students who had been bused from various Leon County public schools to the club on Laura Lee Avenue now will be bused to Oak Ridge, Bond and Riley elementary schools, Nims Middle School and Godby High School. The fuel costs will be picked up by the United Way, which this year already is contributing $90,000 to the club.

This is a perfect example of three entities, each committed to improving the chances of success for our children, pooling their resources. This cooperative venture could save the Boys & Girls Clubs, but it also will add after-school programs at schools where such programs had been dropped because of cutbacks in 21st Century grant money. Credit needs to go to Ms. Flury and Todd Sumner, chairman of the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs, as well as Barbara Wills, an assistant superintendent for Leon County Schools, Heather Mitchell, president and CEO of the local United Way, and Tallahassee City Commissioner Gil Ziffer, who works effectively behind the scenes to help solve many community challenges.

The plan has some drawbacks, including the fact that 50 students in the program who attend charter schools in Leon County will not be eligible to take part in the school programs. And, since club members will be sent to different after-school locations, there's some loss of the camaraderie that has been established at Laura Lee. On the other hand, the Boys & Girls Club will be better positioned to offer effective programs without having the burden of the Laura Lee building always looming. That building now will be up for sale.

The partnership also opens other opportunities. By linking with the resources of the Boys & Girls Club, Leon County Schools will be in a more favorable position to seek the re-establishment of grant money for Title 1 schools and strengthen its position in obtaining new grant money. The United Way plans to add Riley elementary to the existing nine school or community sites offering the popular ReadingPals after-school program.

The winners in this partnership are our children, and that's what makes it inspiring and worth supporting.